Cedar Grove Church

In all things, give glory to God.

We want to thank all of the visitors who came and we welcome you back any time.

Special music was provided by the choir, Amelia Hubbard, musicians and Bro. Stony. Pastor Bro. Jeff Carroll’s text came from 1 Corinthians 3:1-23 titled “Laborers Together With God.”

We as laborers with God need to be in the same mind as Christ to obtain and maintain the power and authority in the name of Jesus. God expects us to grow spiritually. We have a choice to make: to walk and talk like Jesus, sharing the gospel with others, or make the choice to let your flesh and Satan lead you into sin.

The Spirit of God will never lead you in the wrong direction. We need to call on God with every step we make, for every decision we make and trust the Shepherd to lead us in the path of righteousness. Jesus loves us and proved that by dying on the cross for our sins and rising again on the third day. We know that if Jesus had not done this, we would not have everlasting life and salvation through profession of faith.

We must study and meditate on God’s word to be able to have power and authority over Satan and his temptations. Jesus welcomes us into the Christian faith for spiritual guidance. We as Christians and a church cannot hope to receive such guidance if there is envy, strife or getting into other people’s business instead of minding our own, which causes not only trouble among believers, but before the lost as well.

We can’t beat the devil or beat the gates of hell if we as a church do not live as Christ. We can, however, destroy the life of the lost and our chance of winning them to Christ. God is not pleased with division and discord. His word tells us where there are two or three that agree together, he will be in the mist.

We are to be alert and radical—even in praying—for the power of the Holy Ghost to lead us in the path of righteousness, not religion, which is of Satan. We should all know that there will be no denominations in heaven, just true children of God.

We plant the seed for Christ and we water it, but Christ gives the increase. We are God’s fellow workers, God’s field and his building. We are either for God or against God. If we work with God, he will give our church increase. God is challenging each one of us to be laborers of Christ. The greatest thing we can ever do is to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. God can do abundantly more than you can imagine.

What will your choice be today? Do not delay. Jesus is alive and well!

Love to all and have a blessed week.

Prayer concerns: Earl Giles, Bobbie Giles, Billy Caton, Kip Cleckley and family, Jean Varden, Nan, Ann Russell, Mary McGuire, Irene Gothard, Charlette Ray, Joyce Scott, those in hospitals and nursing homes, spoken and unspoken requests.

Samaria Baptist Church

We come rejoicing in good news from this past week. Bro. Forrest Silas was able to go home from the hospital on Saturday. He is recuperating well and the family and the church thank you for remembering him in prayer. Diane and Don Fisher were blessed with a brand new grandson this week. Please pray for Mandy and John Jamison and their new baby, Jacob. We are so blessed when Bro. Darrell Willis sings, and today he sang a beautiful song, which uplifted the entire congregation. Along with Bro. Shane’s message was a song by his daughter Lauren called “Blessings.”

Prayers requested today are for Carl and Pat Foshee in the loss of their home to fire.

Bro. Shane preached today about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo. These courageous young men stood strong against the demands of the crowd to bow down and worship King Nebuchadnezzar. They didn’t even consider giving alms to this king when their allegiance was to the true King of Heaven.

Of course, the king had them brought before him, threatening them with death if they continued this lack of reverence toward him. They remained faithful and trusted God the Father to bring them through the repercussions.

They were thrown in the fiery furnace to be burned to death. The men who threw them in were overcome by the heat and died immediately. When the king realized that there was a fourth man in the fire, he ordered the men brought out. They had no trace of smoke, flame or ash anywhere on their bodies. The king was blown away and became immediately convinced that the God these men serve must be real.

What does God see when he looks at you? When he looks at any of us? We need to see ourselves and others through the eyes of Christ. It will change the world, starting with where we stand. God will change our nation if we bind in one body of Christ. Nothing can overcome the power of a loving God.

Let others see Jesus in you this week. Join us at Samaria. God is here, waiting for you.